Adjustable folding leg support for inspection or surgical tables



y 1951 c. c. CURTIS 2,552,370

ADJUSTABLE FOLDING LEG SUPPORT FOR INSPECTION 0R SURGICAL TABLES Filed June 8, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CECILCLAUDCURTIS y 1951 c. c. CURTIS 2,552,370

ADJUSTABLE FOLDING LEG SUPPORT FOR INSPECTION 0R SURGICAL TABLES Filed June 8, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 8, 1951 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE FOLDING LEG SUPPORT FOR INSPECTION OR SURGICAL TABLES 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a table of the type useful in hospitals or similar places by physicians or surgeons, and more particularly to instrumentalities or appurtenances of such a table designed to facilitate an inspection or operation of parts of the human body to be treated.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable, simply constructed and eificient device or devices operatively associated with the table affording ready and firm resting and support of a limb or limbs of the patient in relative positions above the normal plane of the table, as desired, for examination or operating purposes.

The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of leg rests or supports, preferably normally supported by, and concealed below, the bed or top of the table, but extensible beyond the foot end of the table when used and adjustable within a substantial range to position the rests, carried thereby, at an angular and elevated position with respect to the top of the table, as may be desired; and the same associated with means enabling the lateral spacing or separation of the rests or supports with respect to the table bed or top.

All of the foregoing, together with details of construction of said preferred embodiment, will be apparent from the illustration thereof in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof when considered in connection with the detailed description hereinafter contained.

In the said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the so-called foot end portion of the table with the instant invention applied thereto, the latter being shown in relatively concealed position below the table top as when not in use.

Figure 2 is an end view of the table top with the foot rests or supports shown in operative position, that is, extended above the table top, portions being shown in section to illustrate the adjustable interfitting of the rests or supports.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the table top with the leg rests or supports underlying the top as indicated in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Referring more specifically to the drawings same parts in the several views 8 represents the top or bed of the table, the same being of any preferred construction, comprising a wooden or metal rigid base portion 9, padding Ill and a leather or fabric covering ll (Figure '7) While not necessary to illustrate for the purpose of the present invention the table top may be of sectional hinge type, such as illustrated in another application executed of even date, herewith, whereby the top or bed portion 8 of the table may be raised and lowered, if desired, and supported on a brace I2 engaging steps or lugs 13, on inclined racks l4.

0n the bottom of the table, near the opposite edges thereof, are secured a pair of guides I5, cross-sectionally in the shape of an inverted T, over which complemental shaped slides 16 are adapted to work in a direction longitudinally of the table. These slides carry the leg-engaging rests or supports ll, being connected to the slides by hollow upright members [8 in which fit the shank portions or stems I9 of the leg rests I! for telescopic movement in adjusting the position of the leg rests relative to the uprights, these parts being bound in adjusted position by thumb screws 20 (Figure 2). The lower ends of the uprights l8 are adjustably pivotally united with the slides It by a spherical tube coupling 2|, the same comprising the two halves 22 and 23, with intermeshing toothed engagement 24, bound together and in the position to determine the inclination or elevation of the leg rests above the table top 8, by a knurled nut 25 engaging the threaded protruding end of a bolt 26 freely passing through the half 23 of the coupling 2| and riveted fixedly in place to the other half 22 of said coupling, as at 21.

Interiorly of this coupling 2 I, and surrounding the bolt 26, is an expansion spring 28 tending to separate and free the opposite members 22 and 23 from their interfitting toothed engagement when the nut 25 is unscrewed outwardly on the bolt 26. This will enable the uprights l8 to be positioned and fastened, as stated, in operating position; and will correspondingly permit the uprights and leg rests to be swung downwardly from the operating position (Figure 2) to the inoperative position (Figure 1), not being used. It will be understood that in the latter position the parts will be firmly held in a straight or horizontal plane and may be slid back with the slide I6 beneath the table to the position shown in Figure 1 where it may be securely fastened in position by a binding screw 29, having wherein like reference characters designate the u a knurled head 30 and threading through the ends of a transversely U-shaped member 34, the

flanges 35 of which are secured to the under surface of the table in any preferred manner, as by welding, when the top is of metal, or through the medium of an intermediate spacing bar 35a.

The keepers 33 will move through the open ends of the member 34 under the manipulation of knobs 36, depending from the keepers 33 on pins 37 passing through slots 38 in the member 3d, the slotted portions at their closed ends 39 limiting the movements of the pins 37 and coincident- 2O ly the movement of the keepers 33 from which the pins project.

Now, the uprights 18 for the leg rests or supports I! are of considerable size in cross-section to secure inflexibility or rigidity thereof and consequently there is considerable depth of space occupied by these uprights and the rests when slid beneath the table. It is desirable to have these uprights and the leg rests or supports ad-- ditionally supported under the table when stored,

or not in use (Figure 1). To this end the keepers 33, referred to, are provided and occupy a plane to be projected under the uprights when desired, and also to project beneath the enlargements or rods 32 depending from the guides I6, as indicated in Figures 5 and 7 when the leg rests or supports are moved outwardly and projected above the table. When the leg rests or supports are moved outwardly from beneath the table top, to an operable extent, the general position thereof is fixed and maintained by locking the slides it to the guides l5 (Figure 3) and the toothed coupling forced home or in fixed interlocking condition by the knurled nut 25 operatin on the threaded stem 26, overcoming the parting tendency of the coupling exerted by the expansion 4 spring 28 therein. By simply loosening the binding nut 25, referred to, and rotatively shifting the coupling portions 22, rigid with the uprights it, with respect to the coupling portions 23 rigid with the slide I5, and thereafter forcing the cou pling members to again have their interlocking engagement, the desired inclination or rotative positioning of the uprights (8, with the leg rests or supports will be accomplished together with various degrees of elevation, obtained by the adjustment of the telescoping relationship between the shanks 19 of the rests or supports I? in the hollow uprights l8 and fastening of the same, as at 2:).

I claim:

In combination with a table of the character described, a leg rest, an upright member carrying. said leg rest, means for pivot-ally supporting the leg rest and upright member, a guide secured to the bottom of the table extending longitudinally of said table and terminating at an end thereof, a guide shoe slidable on said guide secured to said supporting means, the leg rest and its carrying member positioned beneath the table when not in use with the leg rest adjacent to an end of the table, and a keeper secured to the bottom of the table having a slidalole bolt to engage and support the leg rest, said keeper bolt engaging and acting as an auxiliary support for the supporting means for the leg rest and upright member when the latter are positioned for use.

CECIL CLAUD CURTIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 476,516 Chemberlin June 7, 1892 l90,5l0 Case Jan. 24, 1893 850,458 Bagley Apr. 16, 1907 2,223,784 Froelioh Dec. 3, 1940 2,376,507 Ruther May 22, 1945 

